Figuratively Speaking

Cost to a middle-income family to raise a child born in 1960 to age 18, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Expenditures on Children by Families Annual Report”: $145,000. Cost to a middle-income family to raise a child born in 2002 to age 18: $173,880.

Percentage of Blacks who try to start their own businesses, according to a study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation : 9.5. Percentage of whites who try to start their own businesses: 5.7.

Percentage of Black employees who feel that merit is the main factor in obtaining a promotion: 41.5. Percentage of white employees who feel that merit is the main factor in obtaining a promotion: 40.

Percentage of Black employees who feel seniority is the main factor in obtaining a promotion: 15.3. Percentage of white employees who feel seniority is the main factor: 29.4.

Percentage of Black employees who feel connections are the main factor in obtaining a promotion: 24.6. Percentage of white employees who feel connections are the main factor in obtaining a promotion: 15.

Percentage of Black employees who feel luck is the main factor: 7. Percentage of white employees who feel luck is the main factor: 5.7.

Percentage of Black people who earn more than $50,000 annually who said they had money invested in the stock market in 2002, according to an Ariel-Schwab survey: 74. Percentage who invested in 2003: 61. Percentage of white people who invested in 2002: 84. Percentage of white people who invested in 2003: 79.

Percentage of Black investors who say their most important investing goal is to leave money to heirs: 12. Percentage of white investors who say their most important investing goal is to leave money to heirs: 5.

Percentage of Black investors who said that they invested to obtain a better lifestyle: 14. Percentage of white investors who said that they invested to obtain a better lifestyle: 11.

Percentage of Black investors who said they invested to prepare for an emergency or future need: 18. Percentage of white investors who said they did so to prepare for an emergency or future need: 15.

Percentage of Black investors who said they invest to send children to college: 18. Percentage of white investors who said they invest to send children to college: 13.

Percentage of Black investors who invest for retirement: 38. Percentage of white investors who invest for retirement: 56.